Garden & Grounds

Enjoy our beautiful garden!

The Garden was laid out in its present form by Alexander Hamilton Ladd in the late nineteenth century, and it was restored as a Colonial Revival Garden in the early twentieth century. Ladd’s daily records reveal that he was an avid tulip gardener, originally importing tulips from Holland and later propagating new varieties himself. His garden was complete with ornamental flowering plants, fruit and nut trees, herbs and vegetables. Many of the Moffatt and Ladd families’ plants and garden features remain in the garden today. In the Colonial Revival tradition, a 300-foot axis path flanked by formal gardens leads from the house up four terraces to a wrought-iron gate at the rear boundary.

Grass steps installed by Ladd and maintained today as an ornamental feature, lead to the upper garden. An English damask rose planted in 1768 by Sarah Catherine Mason Moffatt and the enormous horse chestnut tree planted in 1776 by General William Whipple upon his return from signing the Declaration of Independence are constant reminders of the garden’s historic past. The horse chestnut tree was designated the Millennium Landmark Tree for the State of New Hampshire in 2000 and is on the National Register of Historic Trees.

The garden may be rented for weddings, receptions, corporate functions, birthday parties, and other similar events. Please visit the "Rentals" section for more information.